The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1887-07-28

1
YOU. YOU are as much discoutented with
this life as the celebrated French author who
felt that he could not any longer endure the
misfortunes Of the world, and who said. "Al
four o'clock this afternoon | shall put an end
to my own existence. meanwhile, must
toll on up to that time for the sustenance OF
my family" And he wrote on his book until
the clock struck four. when he folded up ms
manuscript and, by his own hand, concluded
his earthly life. There are men in this house
who are perfectly discontented. Unhappy IN
the past unhappy to-day, to DO mn
happy forever, unless You come to
this Gospel well. This satisfies the soul
with high, deep, all absorbing, and eternal
satisfaction 1t comes, and it offers the most |
unfortunate man so much of this world as is
hest for him, and throws all heaven into the |
bargain, The wealth of Croesus, and of all |
the Stewards and of all the Barings, and all |
the Rothschilds, is only a poor, miserable |
shilling, compared with the eternal fortunes |
that Christ offers you to-day. In the far East
there was king who used once a year to get
on the scales, while on the other side the scales
were placed gold, and silver, and gems; in
deed, enough were placed there to balance
the king; then, at the close of the
weighing, all those treasures were thrown
among the populace But Christ to day steps
on one side the scales and on the other side
are all the treasures of the universe, and He
says. "All are yours-all height, all depth,
oil length, all breadth, all eternity; all are
yours" We don't appreciate the promises of
the Gospel. When an aged clergyman was
dying--a man very eminent in the Church
young theological student stood by his side,
and the aged man looked up and said to
him: "Can't you give me some comfort
in my dying hourf" "No,n said the young
man; Il can't talk to you, on this subject;
you know all about it, and have known it so
long" "Wen. said the dying man. ''iust
rcclUe TO me some promises. Inc young
man thought a moment and he came to this
promise: "The blood of Jesus Christ cleanseth
from all sin;" and the old man clapped his
hands, and in his dying moment said: That's
just the promise | have been waiting for.
The blood of Jesus Christ cleanseth from all
sim" Oh, the warmth the grandeur, the
magnifcence of the promises.
Come also to this Gospel well all ye
troubled. do not suppose you have escaped
Compare your view of this life at fifteen
years of age with what your view is of it at
contrast of opinion! Were you right then, or
are ypu right nowl Two cups placed in your
hands, the ore sweet cup the other a sour
cup, A cupof joy cup of grief. Which has
been the nearest to being full, and out Of
which have you the more frequently par
taken! What different place Greenwood is
from what it used to bei Once it was to you
went out on the pleasure excur-
sion, ana you ran IaughingIy up the mouno,
and you criticised in light way the eptaph.
But since the day when you heard the bell
toll at the gate when you went in with the
procession it is a sad place, and there is
eye and overmaster the heart Oh, you have
had trouble trouble, trouble. God only
knows how much you have had 1t is a
wonder you have been able to live through
it. 1t is wonder your nervous system has
not been shattered and your brain has not
reeled. Trouble, trouble. If could gather
all the griefs, of all sorts, from this
great audience, and could put them in one
SCROLL neither man nor angel could endure
tfe recitation. Well, what do you wantl
Would you like to have your property back
agains NO" you say, as Christian man,
u was becoming arrogant, and ! think that
is why the Lord took it away. l don't
would you have your departed friends
take the responsibility of bringing them
from a fearless realm to a realm Of
tears. / couldn't do it." Well, then, what
do you want? A thousand voices in the
audience cry out: Comfort, give us COM
fort" - For that reason | have rolled away
the stone from the wells mouth. Come, all
ye wounded of the flock, pursued of the
wolves, come to the fountain where the
Lords sick and bereft ones have come.
"Ah," says some one, "you are not old
enough to understand my sorrow. You have
not been in the world as long as I have and
| you can't talk to me about my misfortunes in
the time of old age" Well, may not have
| lived as long as you, but have been great
deal among old people, and know how they
feel about their failing health, and about
their departed friends, and about the loneli-
ness that sometimes strikes through
their souls, After two persons have
lived together for forty or fifty years,
and one of them is taken away, what
desolation 1 shall not forget the cry of the
late Rev Dewitt, of New ork, when he stood
by the open grave of his wife, and after the
Obsequies had ended, he looked down into the
faithful and beloved wife. The bond that
bound us is severed. Thou art in glory, and
| am here on earth. We shall meet again Fare
Welt Farewell ?" To lean on prop for fifty
years, and then have it break under you'll
There were only two years difference between
the death of my father and mother After
my mothers decease, my father used to 60
around as though looking for something; he
would often get up from one room, without
any seeming reason, and go to another room
and then he would take his cane and Start out
and some one would say: "Father, where
are you goingF,, and he would an,
swer: 81 don't know exactly where
am going" Always looking for something
Though he was tender-hearted man,
never saw him cry but once, and that was at
the burial of my mother. After sixty years
living together, it was hard to part. And
there are aged people to-day who are feeling
just such pang as that. want to tell them
there is perfect enchantment in the promises
OF this Gospel; and come to them and offer
them my arm, or take their arm and bring
them to this Gospel well Sit down. father or
nctner SIT down. Zee II there is anything at
the well for you. Come, David, the Psalmist,
have you anything encouraging to offer them.
YES says the Psalmist; "'They shall still
bring forth fruit in old age, they shall be fat
and fiourishing, to show that the Lord is up
right. He is my rock, and there is nc
unrighteousness in me- Come, Isaiah
have you anything to say out OF
your prophecies for these aged peo
age l am with thee. and to hoary hairs will
carry thee" Well, if the Lord is going to
carry you, you ought not to worry mucf
about your failing eyesight and failing limbs
You get a little worried for fear some time you
will come to want. do you? Your children
and grandchildren sometimes speak little
sharp at you because of your ailments
The Lord will not speak sharp. Dc
you think you will come to want
Who do you think the Lord is' Are Hi
granaries empty! viii He feed the raven
and the rabbit, and the lion in the desert, ant
lOlRtb NOuE why HAUL dllSbS tcl US IUut III
porpoise will not forsake its wounded ant
sick mates And do you suppose the Lore
of heaven and earth has not as mucl
sympathy as the fish of the sea! But yo,
say: 81 am so near worn out
and l am of no use to God any more.
/ think the Lord knows whether you ar
of any more use or not; if you were of n
,, |, more use He would have taken you befor
this. Do you think God has forgotten yo
because He has taken care of you seventy o
eighty years' He thinks more of you toda
+ than He ever did, because you think more c
l Him. May the God of Abraham, and 1saac
: and Jacob, and Paul, the aged, be your Go
Tor ever!
: But l gather all the promises to-day in
l group, and ask the shepherds to drive thei
0 | fiocks of lambs and sheep up to the sparklin
. supply. "Behold, happy is the man whoI
( God correcteth." Though he cause grie
8 yet will He have compassion "Many al
S the Affections of the righteous, but th
!, Lord delyereth him out of them all.
t "Weeping may endure for night but jo
cometh in the morning." l am determine
this morning that no one shall 90 out of tn
house uncontrolled. Yonder is tirnid an
shrinking soul who seems to hide away frol
A.